Knock-down simulated christmas tree constructions having adjustable and collapsible branches



Dec. 1, 1964 A. ABRAMSON 3,159,523

KNOCK-DOWN SIMULATED CHRISTMAS TREE CONSTRUCTIQNS HAVING ADJUSTABLE ANDCOLLAPSIBLE BRANCHES Filed Feb. 20. 1961 INVENTOR.

- ABRAHAM ABRANSON A Troy YE Y United States Patent Office 3,159,523Patented Dec. 1, 1964 3,159,523 KNOCK-DGWN SHVIULATED CHRESTMAS TREECQNSTRUCTIGNS HAVING ADJUSTABLE AND CQLLAPSIBLE BRANCHES AbrahamAhramson, New York, N .Y., assignor to Ra lite Electric Corp, Bronx,N.Y., a corporation of New Yorir Filed Feb. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 90,455 9Ciaims. (Cl. 1161-24) This invention relates to ornamental anddecorative devices and more particularly is directed to artificialsimulated Christmas tree constructions. I

Among the objects of the invention is to improve artificial simulatedChristmas tree constructions of the character described which shall beparticularly adaptable for packaging and shipping in a knock-downcondition yet requiring a minimum of skill and time for assembly into anattractive ornamental tree, which tree shall comprise an assembly ofinterfitting trunksegments which can be manufactured by quantityproduction methods in a variety of colors from ,plastic resinousmaterial to be relatively light in weight yet rugged in construction towithstand breakage in periodic assembly and dismantling, which shallprovide some of said segments with integrally formed hinged mountingholders for branches of any one of a variety of known constructions,which integrally formed hinged mounting holders shall permit pivoting ofthe branches from a predetermined outstretched angular relation withrespect to the vertical axis of the trunk to a collapsed positionwhereby the branches are disposed substantially lengthwise along theaxis of the trunk, which hinged mounting holders shall provide forselectively positioning each of the branches individually at a desiredangle with respect to the vertical axis of the trunk to shape the treein 'a variety of contours and configurations, which tree can be erectedto a wide range of desired heights by duplicating said trunk segmentsand which shall be efiicient and practical to a high degree in use.

This invention is a continuation-in-pa1t of subject matter covered in mycopending application entitled Molded Plastic Segmented Trunk and BranchHolder Means for Simulated Christmas Trees, filed herewith, now US.Patent No. 3,131,112, and application Serial No. 78,- 938, filedDecember 28, 1960, now U.S. Patent No. 3,115,435, for DecorativeSimulated Christmas Tree Constructions.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the constructions hereinafter disclosed, the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing in which various embodiments of theinvention are shown:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view partly in phantom of a Christmas treeconstructed to embody the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section of the segmented trunkof the Christmas tree shown in FIG. 1, one of the branch holders beingshown in an adjusted position by means of a shim, an arrow indicatingthe direction of swinging of the branch holder to a collapsed posit-ionagainst the trunk.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of one of the segments shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the integrallyformed hinge between the trunk body and bran-ch holder and a modifiedform of shim.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of Christmas treeconstruction having thebranch holders integrally formed with a collarprovided as an element of the segmented trunk for positioning betweentwo tubular trunk bodies, the collar having an integral shim forselectively adjusting the angular disposition of the branch holder withrespect to the vertical trunk.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of collarconstruction and shim combination.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shim shown utilized in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified shim shown utilized in FIG. 4having a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surface thereof, and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another modified form of shim shownutilized in FIG. 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 denotes an artificial Christmastree constructed to embody the invention comprising a base 16asupporting a vertical trunk 10!) having branches 11 extending therefromin a radial and upward direction.

Branches 11 may be of any conventional construction, but each, as shownin FIG. 2, formed generally with a leafless medial or trunk attachingend 11a which may be an extension of an axial core 11b carryingsimulated leaves 110.

, Trunk 10b is preferably formed as a segmented structure, each segment,as is clear from FIG. 2, comprising a tubular body 12 having an upperend section 12a of larger cross-sectional area in relation to a lowersection 1211 of smaller cross-section area and a shoulder 12ctherebetween. All bodies 12 may be identical with lower section 12b ofeach body forming an inner sleeve member and upper end section 12aforming an outer sleeve member of a telescoping interfitting connectionbetween adjoining segments with the free upper end 120. of upper endsection 12a seated on shoulder 120.

One of the features of the invention is the hinged integrally formedmounting means for branches 11 providing foldability of the branchesfrom an out-stretched position at a predetermined angle with respect tothe vertical axis of the trunk to a folded or collapsed position againstthe trunk. To this end a plurality of substantially radially extendingbranch holders 13 are integrally attached to tubular bodies 12,preferably adjacent free upper ends 12d thereof by a relatively thinfoldable bight portion 122. Tubular bodies 12 with integral branchholders 13 may be molded as a unitary structure of a suitable plasticresinous material, such as, for example, polypropylene, having toughfoldable characteristics of sufficient tensile strenght and durabilityfor withstanding the required flexure of thin bight portion 12e.

Branch holders 13 may each be formed as an elongated structure having anaxial bore 13:: open at an outer free end 13b to provide a seat forreceiving therein leafless attaching end 11a of branch 11. As is clearfrom FIGS. 2 and 3, foldable bight portion 12e connects to an upper ortop edge of the inner end of holder 13 and suspends end 130 therefrom tocontact the wall of tubular body upper end 12a. As will be seen fromFIG. 2, the lower portion of branch holder inner end 130 contacting thewall of tubular body upper end 12a serves as means for disposing holder13 and its branch 11 at a predetermined angle with respect to thevertical axis of trunk 1012. Branch holders 13 and branches 11 may becollapsed for storing purposes against trunk 10b as shown by the arrowin FIG. 2 by folding at bight portion 12e. holders 13 may be provided ontubular body 12 and such holders may be arranged in any desired spacing.For most purposes, 4, 5 or 6 branch holders symmetrically spaced aroundbody 12 will prove satisfactory.

In dependent adjustment of the angular disposition of each holder 13 andits branch 11 may be readily accomplished by a suitable shim positionedbetween branch holder inner end 13c and the wall of tubular body 12. Twosuch shims 15 and 16 are exemplified in FIGS. 7

Any suitable number of branch and S and shown in operative position inFIGS. 2 and 4, respectively. Shims 15 and 16 may be molded or otherwisefashioned from any suitable material to serve the intended purpose asfor example, rubber, plastic resins, wood or metal.

Shim 15 may be formed as a twin unit comprising two aligned oppositelyextending wedges 15a and 161) having apex ends 150 and 16d,respectively, interconnected at 150 along one side thereof forming aslot 15 therebetween for receiving bight portion 12@ therein. Faces 15gand 15h of wedges 15a and 151), respectively, may be of concave contourto conform to the exterior surface of tubular body upper end 1211 tomore snugly fit in operative position. As is clear from FIGS. 2 and 7,wedges 15a and 15b, have different thicknesses, that is, different apexangles, so that each shim 15 by selective inversion will provide twoangular adjustment positions for each holder 13.

Shim 16 may comprise a simple wedge and include a face 16a of concavecontour to conform to the exterior surface of tubular body upper end 12aand an opposite face 16b carrying a pressure sensitive adhesive coatingA for securing shim 16 to branch holder inner end 13c. Shim 16, prior toattachment, may be provided with a conventional removable protectivecover 160 for coating A. As an alternative, adhesive coating A may beapplied to concave face 16a instead of face 161) for attachment of shim16 to the exterior surface of tubular body upper end 12a.

The utility and operation of the invention will now be apparent.Christmas tree it? may be packed for shipping in a carton in aknock-down condition, that is, preferably with tubular bodies 12,branches 11 and shims 15 or 16 separated from each other to save spaceand prevent breakage but, if desired, each branch leafless end 11a maybe pro-inserted in axial bore 13a of a branch holder 13 and the holdersfolded in collapsed position parallel to the axis of the tubular body12.

Assembly of Christmas tree is readily accomplished by firstinterconnecting base ltla with several branchless tubular bodies formedwithout branch holders 13, such as body 22 shown in FIG. 5, in themanner fully shown and described in my said copending application. Thentubular bodies 12 with integrally formed pivoted branch holders 13 eachcarrying a branch 11 are interconnected in telescoping fashion, asillustrated in FIG. 2, to a desired height and may be topped with asuitable ornament or finial (not shown). Where the parts of tree 10 areprovided in complete knock-down condition, trunk 10b may be assembledfirst and thereafter branches 11 inserted into the axial bores 13a ofholders 13. The weight of holders 13 and branches 11 will cause holders13 to fold downwardly at bight portion 12e until holder inner ends 130abut the walls of tubular body upper ends 12a disposing holders 13 andbranches 11 in a substantially radially extending outstretched positionin said predetermined angular relation with respect to the vertical axisof trunk 10b.

After assembly in the above described manner, tree 10 may be shaped byrotating the various tubular bodies 12 with respect to each other toeither vertically align or stagger branches 11. The angular dispositionof branches 11 with respect to trunk 16'!) may then be adjusted wheredesired for shaping tree 19, as for example, by progressively reducingthe angle of branches 11 with respect to the vertical axis of trunk 10bin the upper levels. This may be readily accomplished, after shim 15 isfirst oriented so that the desired size wedge of wedges 15a or 15!) isat the bottom and sufiicient clearance is provided therefor by liftingbranch holder free end 13b, by slipping shim 15 in position with bightportion 12 extending through slit 15 the uppermost of wedges 15a and15.) serving as a supporting hook means for shim 15. Similarly, as analternative, shim 16 is readily secured in position by first removingadhesive protective cover 16c, lifting branch holder free end 13b toexpose inner end and pressure mounting face 16b thereto, if concave face16a carries adhesive A, by pressing face against tubular body upper end12a in alignment to be engaged by branch holder inner end 130.

FIG. 5 shows a modified form of tree trunk 20b constructed to embody theinvention in which each of the segments comprises a tubular body 22 anda collar 23 having a plurality of integrally formed branch holders 24connected thereto by relatively thin foldable bight portions 23a.Tubular bodies 22 are similar to body 12 but lacking branch holders 13and foldable bight portions He and are preferably utilized in aninverted position from that shown in FIG. 2, namely, with largercross-sectional end section 22a lowermost and smaller cross-sectionalendsection 22b uppermost, collar 23 having a diameter sized to fitsmaller end section 22b and seat on shoulder 220. In a preferred formshown in FIG. 5 collar 23 has an L-shaped cross-section providing aninternal horizontal flange 23c and a vertical flange 23b, the lattercooperating with the smaller end section 2212 to provide a groove forreceiving free bottom end with respect to the vertical axis of body 22.

Branch holder 24 may be formed, similar to holder 13, as an elongatedstructure having an axial bore 2411 open at an outer free end 24b toprovide a seat for receiving therein branch leafless attaching end 11a,foldable bight portion 23a connecting an upper edge of collar 23 to anupper edge of inner end 24c and suspending the latter to contact theexterior vertical wall of collar 23 to disposed holder 24 at apredetermined angle with erspect to the vertical axis of body 22.

Collar 23 may also be formed with an integral wedge shaped shim 25pivotally attached thereto by a foldable bight portion 23d extendingfrom the lower edge of collar 23 to the base of shim 25 for selectivelypositioning shim 25 in an inoperative downwardly extending positionshown in FIG. 5 on the right side of the trunk or in an operativeupwardly extending position between the Wall of collar 23 and branchholder inner end 24c shown in FIG. 5 on the left side of the trunk.

A modified collar 33 is shown in FIG. 6, similar in construction tocollar 23 except for the omission of integral shim 25. Instead, branchholder 34 of collar 33 is formed at inner end 340 with a seat 34d forfrictionally receiving shank 35a of shim 35. As shown in FIG. 9, shim 35is formed as a peg having shank 35a terminating in an enlarged conicalhead 35b sized and shaped to abut the vertical wall of collar 33 toposition branch holder 34 in a desired adjusted angular relation to theaxis of the trunk. Providing shim 35 in different sizes that is, withheads 3517 having different apex angles will render a wide range ofselective adjustability to branch holders 34.

Collars 23 with integral foldable branch holders 24, with or withoutintegral foldable shims 25 and collars 33 with integral foldable holders34 may be molded of polypropylene or similar material having physicalproperties required for thin bight portions 23a and 23d. However,tubular bodies 22 may be molded of less expensive material, such as,polystyrene, polyethylene or the like.

When ready for storage Christmas tree 10 affords a variety of choims,such as, collapsing branches 11 against tree trunks ltlb or 2012,removing branches 11 from holders 14, 24 or 34 and separating the treetrunk segments, or retaining branches 11 in holders 24 or 34 andseparating collars 23 or 33 from tubular bodies 22.

It is to be understood that within the scope of the invention branchholders 14, 24 and Y34 may be provided at their branch connecting endswith male elements such as projections or pins for engaging seats, boresor other types of female elements provided on the ends of branches 11.

Without departing from the scope of the invention,

if? branch holders 34 with seats 34d for shims 35 may be integrallyformed with tubular bodies 12 instead of branch holders 13. Likewiseshims 1d or 16 may be utilized with collar 33 instead of shim 35.

It is thus seen that there is provided knock'down simulated Christmastree constructions in which the several objects of the invention areachieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practicaluse.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth,it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In an artificial Christmas tree construction, an elongated trunkformed of separable segments, a plurality of branches, some of saidsegments each having a branch holder including means for supporting oneof the branches in a radially extending predetermined angular relationto the axis of the trunk, said segment and branch holder being molded ofplastic resinous material as an integral structure with aninterconnecting relatively thin and flexible strip extendingtherebetween, said strip forming a hinge member located to position anend portion of said branch holder in abutment with a surface of saidsegment to support the branch holder and branch in said predeterminedangular relation and to swing the branch holder and branch out of saidabutment to a collapsed position substantially parallel to said axisagainst said trunk.

2. The artificial Christmas tree construction defined in claim 1including a shim interposed between said surface of the segment and saidbranch holder end portion to adjust the angle to a desired intermediateposition between said predetermined angular relation and said collapsedposition.

3. The artificial Christmas tree construction defined in claim 1including a shim having a hanger portion resting on said flexible strip,said hanger portion being attached to a branch holder positioningportion of the shim extending beneath said strip interposed between saidsurface of the segment and said branch holder end portion to adjust theangle to a desired position between said predetermined angular relationand said collapsed position.

4. The artificial Christmas tree construction defined in claim 1including a shim formed as an invertible twin unit comprising twoaligned oppositely extending wedges having apex ends interconnectedalong one side of the unit and formed with a slot therebetween, saidshim being mounted with said flexible strip extending therethrough withone wedge supporting the other between said sur- 629 face of the segmentand said branch holder end portion to adjust the angle to a desiredposition between said predetermined angular relation and said collapsedposition, said wedges having different apex angles providing twoselective adjustment positions.

5. The artificial Christmas tree constructions defined in claim 1 inwhich said branch holder end portion is formed With a recessed seatingmeans, a shim having a shank removably mounted in said seating means anda head portion extending to contact said surface of the segment toadjust the angle to a desired position between said predeterminedangular relation and said collapsed position.

6. In an artificial Christmas tree construction, an elongated trunkformed of separable segments, a plurality of branches, some of saidsegments each having branch holders including means for supporting thebranches in radially extending predetermined angular relation to theaxis of the trunk, means carried by said segment for adjusting saidpredetermined angular relation, said segments, branch holders andadjusting means being molded of plastic resinous material as integralstructures with relatively thin and flexible strips extending asinterconnections between said segments and branch holders and saidsegments and adjusting means, each of said strips forming hinge members.

7. The artificial Christmas tree construction defined in claim 1including a shim having a pressure sensitive adhesive surface removablymounted between said branch holder end portion and said trunk segmentsurface adjusting said angular relation to a desired position.

8. The artificial Christmas tree construction defined in claim 1 inwhich said segments having branch holders are formed as collarssupported between two elongated separable segments.

9. The artificial Christmas tree construction defined in claim 1 inwhich said segments having branch holders are formed as collarssupported between two elongated separable segments, some of the branchholders each having a coacting shim integrally connected by a secondrelatively thin and flexible strip to said collar, said shim and stripbeing constructed and arranged to selectively swing into and out ofoperative engagement between the collar and said branch holder endportion to adjust said predetermined angular relation.

1. IN AN ARTIFICAL CHRISTMAS TREE CONSTRUCTION, AN ELONGATED TRUNKFORMED OF SEPARABLE SEGMENTS, A PLURALITY OF BRANCHES, SOME OF SAIDSEGMENTS EACH HAVING A BRANCH HOLDER INCLUDING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ONEOF THE BRANCHES IN A RADIALLY EXTENDING PREDETERMINED ANGULAR RELATIONTO THE AXIS OF THE TRUNK, SAID SEGMENT AND BRANCH HOLDER BEING MOLDED OFPLASTIC RESINOUS MATERIAL AS AN INTEGRAL STUCTURE WITH ANINTERCONNECTING RELATIVELY THIN AND FLEXIBLE